Evidence-based practice and determinants of research use in elderly care in Sweden.

RATIONALE AND
OBJECTIVE: Evidence-based practice is a strategic ingredient in today's health care. Despite extensive efforts to produce and disseminate clinical guidelines, research uptake is still a difficult task. In Sweden, elderly care (EC) has shifted from hospital care to community-based care, and the major nursing-staff group in EC has no university education. These and other factors make implementation of evidence-based care particularly challenging in EC settings. The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of research utilization in EC.
METHOD: Two questionnaires that cover research utilization and organizational climate were mailed to all staff (n = 132) working in seven EC units. The response rate was 67%.
RESULTS: Of all respondents, 28% reported that they used research findings in daily practice (the RU group). Remaining respondents constituted the non-RU group. Significant differences existed between the RU group and the non-RU group as per six individual and six organizational factors. Using logistic regression models, four factors were significantly related to research utilization, namely: attitudes toward research (OR = 5.52, P = 0.004); seeking research that is related to clinical practice (OR = 5.56, P = 0.019); support from unit manager (OR = 4.03, P = 0.044) and access to research findings at work place (OR = 6.65, P = 0.005).
CONCLUSIONS: Individual and organizational factors were associated with the use of research in EC. Despite distinguishing conditions in EC settings, identified factors reflect well-known determinants of research use that, as in many other health care contexts, should be considered in the endeavours of evidence-based practice.